Who's in Ctrl? SZA is.

by Claire Dunham

I believe that there are some musicians who cannot be adequately described with words. To me, SZA is one of those artists. However, I feel like I cannot call myself a music writer if I don’t even attempt to describe SZA’s impact on the music industry at large. When she released her debut album Ctrl in 2017, I was in high school. My friends and I became obsessed with songs like “Drew Barrymore,” “Broken Clocks,” and “The Weekend.” For this Friday’s blog post, I will take a closer look at Ctrl and the songs that helped launch SZA into stardom.

Every musician has a distinct strength. Whether it be instrumental abilities or a noteworthy songwriting technique, these strengths can be heard clearly in a musician’s discography. Although she is a well-rounded artist, with various songwriting credits under her belt, I believe SZA’s voice is her greatest strength. It’s the type of voice that causes you to frantically locate the person playing music and ask, “Who is this?” I still remember the first time I heard SZA’s feature on “Consideration” by Rihanna. When her voice soared through the first chorus, I was mesmerized. Her tone is celestial and hypnotic. Likewise, Ctrl is packed with flawless vocal intricacies that effectively highlight SZA’s unmatched tone. The album establishes both her literal and poetic voice.
Ctrl was released through Top Dawg Entertainment, the record label known for producing artists like Ab-Soul, Kendrick Lamar, and ScHoolboy Q. In an interview with Consequence Sound, the label’s president, Terrence "Punch" Henderson, describes the first time he heard SZA’s music: “Her melody choice and tone... it was different from anything I had heard at the time. She approached singing as an emcee would.” This unique vocal technique is also present in SZA’s live performances. Fans and industry professionals alike recognize the magic of her tone.

As a songwriter, SZA skillfully balances the ordinary with the profound. For example, my favorite song on Ctrl is “Drew Barrymore.” The opening lyrics are straightforward. SZA describes a chill party with an unwelcome visitor: her ex-partner’s new girlfriend. Subsequently, the lyrics diverge from the party. Instead, SZA ponders other concepts like her complicated relationship with her ex-partner, performing femininity, solitude, and female sexuality.

Even the seemingly simple chorus can be interpreted in a number of ways: “Warm enough for you outside, baby? Yeah / (Tell me if it's warm enough here for you) / Is it warm enough for you inside me, me, me, me?” The repetition of these questions signifies an uncertainty that could be connected to sexuality or a lack of control in the relationship (this interpretation also serves as a reference to the album’s title: Ctrl). These questions continue into the song’s bridge: “Do you really love me / Or just wanna love me down, down, down, down?” In my opinion, “Drew Barrymore” is a perfect song. With her stunning voice and painfully candid lyrics, SZA made her mark on the music world with Ctrl.

If you are a SZA fan, you’d know that her second album SOS was released in December. This release came more than five years after Ctrl. After this prolonged hiatus, SZA proved that she is back and better than ever. Every song on SOS has the classic “SZA sound” and enticingly honest lyrics. As a longtime SZA fan, I can’t wait to see what she does next. In the meantime, I plan to have Ctrl and SOS playing on repeat.

Until next time,

Claire

Photograph: Pinterest

Who's in Ctrl? SZA is.